Draft gear



Oct. 29, 1929. w. H. COTTON 1,733,527

DRAFT GEAR Filed Jan. 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

[22 men 602 Oqt. 29, 1929. w, COTTON 1,733,527

DRAFT GEAR Filed Jan. 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 v 4 &

2 a: i r

33 a q P [22 2/872 602 f/zZeer/Y (Mam Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES WALTER oor'ron, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, nssienon To Union DRAFT GEAR Cong IPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE I DRAFT GEAR Application filed January 28, 1924. Serial No. 689,043. I

The invention relates to draft gears of the friction type, especially designed foruse in connection with freight cars. Its objects are to secure simplicity of construction; a high degree of efficiency and reliability; and ease in assembly and repair or replacements of parts.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a substantially central plan section of the gear, associated parts of the gear being shown in plan and partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, some of the parts of the gear being shown in plan, and the gear being under full compression;

Fig. 3 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section of the gear,the associated coupler element being shown in elevation and the figure being drawn to a smaller scale than Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 1 is an end view of a chambered follower forming one of the elements of the ear.

b For the purpose of showing the manner in which the gear is mounted upon a car there is shown a pair of draft sills 1010; a pair of draft lugs 11-11; a pair of bufling lugs l212; a coupler element 13, and an extension strap or loop 14, within which the gear is enclosed. These parts may be of any desired form of construction and do not enter into the features of the invention.

The gear comprises a chambered follower 15, the outer end of which cooperates with the draft lugs and is seated against the end of the coupler butt 13. The inner face of the draft lug engaging cross member of this follower is provided with a double faced wedging element 16 which is preferably, although not necessarily, cast integrally with the follower. Top and bottom walls 1718 project inwardly from the lug engaging wall of the follower. The side walls, as 19 of the follower, are slotted or widely recessed to permit the insertion of wedging elements housed within the chamber. A plate 20 is located at the inner end of the chambered follower 15, preferably, though not necessarily, being cast integral therewith, as shown. .This plate s is apertured to accommodate wedgingelements ashereinafter described, the aperture being crossed by a web 21 affording ample V strength to resist stresses.

A follower plate 22 cooperates with the buffing lugs 12-12 and is seated against the a rear cross member ofthe loop 14.

Two pairs of wedge blocks 23 2 1areseated against the follower 22, one member of each pair entering "the aperture of the plate 20 above, and the other below, the ,web 21. The side margins of the aperture in the plate 20are inclined for wedging engagement with the outer faces of the blocks 23- 24. I V

p A pair of diamondshaped Wedge blocks 25 526 are housed centrally'within the japerturefin the plate 20, one above and the other below the web 21 and are in wedgin'g engagement with the innerfinclined walls of the wedge blocks 2324. I

A tension rod ,2? extends transversely I accommodate I it. Upon the end portions of the rod, outside of the sills,ther e is mounted helical springsas 28, here shown as apair of nested[springs, wliiel1 react between a 2 through the sills 1010, which are slotted to V i spring seat 29 in thefform ofa nut screwed 1 upon the end of the rod and an inner spring seat 30 loosely sleeved upon the rod, and

having an'inwardly extending stem 31.". Seated against the inner end of each stem 31 and loosely sleeved upon the rod '27 is a wedge plate 32, these plates having inclined I faces in engagement with the wedging ele ments 1 6 and wedging faces in engagement with the inner inclined faces of the wedge blocks 25 -26. The inner face *ofthe bottom wall18 of the chambered follower may be provided with a rib 33 upon which thewedging element26 is supported; The upper,

wedgingelement 25 is supported by the 2 web 21. I

7 When the gear is compressed in buffing, the

chambered follower is moved backwardly,

forcing the wedge blocks 232 1-toward the axis of the gear. These blocks moving the wedge blocks 25-26 forwardly by their wedging action,cause'thern to advance between the plates 32- -32 which by this ac- I lower 22.

Upon the relief of thecompression force, the parts are returned to normal position under the influence of the springs 28.

Under the stresses of draft the follower 22 is moved forwardly, and the relative movement of the other parts of the gear is the same as in the bulfing action except that in buff the rod 27 and its associated parts have no movement logitudinally of the axis of the gear, while in draft these parts are carried forwardly.

By placing the web 21 across the aperture in the plate adequate strength to resist 20 bursting strains is secured, though the plate be made of cast metal. This plate, which constitutes a follower cooperating with the wedge-blocks 23, 24, may be cast integral with the chambered follower 15. The web 21 serves the additional purpose of supporting the upper set of wedgeblocks 23, 2d, and the upper diamond-shaped wedge element 25. The elements 32, 32, are provided with lugs 32*, 32 which assist in supporting the upper diamond-shaped element, and the bottom wall of the chambered follower 15 is provided with a central rib 33 upon which the lower diamond-shaped element rides.

5 3 t on is shown and described, various changes 'of details may be made within the scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention 40 y 1. In a draft gear, in combination, a transverse tension rod, expansion springs mounted on the end portions of the rod, a pair of opposed wedging elements sleeved upon the rod and urged inwardly by the springs, a chambered follower inclosing the named wedging elements having a transverse lug engaging wall provided with a double faced wedge entering between opposed faces of the named wedging elements, such follower hav-- ing at its opposite end an apertured wall, the side margins of the aperture being outwardly inclined and the aperture being crossed by a horizontal web, a follower opposed to the chambered follower, two pairs of approximately triangular wedge-blocks seated against such opposed follower and projecting into the aperture of the inner end wall of the chambered follower above and While a highly eflicient form of construeposed walls, and a main spring resistance cooperating with the friction system.

3. In a draft gear, a casing rectangularin cross section and having side and opposed walls, wedging surfaces integral with said opposed walls, a tie member for connecting the central portions of said opposed walls, a friction system cooperating with said casing, said system including wedge means and friction shoes, follower means for moving said system relatively to said casing for causing frictional resistance between said system and said wedging surfaces, and a main spring resistance cooperating with said friction sys tem for resisting compression of said gear.

WALTER H. COTTON.

below the web, and floating diamond-shaped 6o wedge-blocks cooperating one with each pair of the triangular blocks and with the firstnamed wedging elements. a

2. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the

combination with follower means, of a cas- '65 ing, said casing and follower means being 

